~~Chapter 26: Coming Down~~

It has been one month since our return from Kauai. I have settled back into the routine of work and Eric, and have even attempted surfing a handful of times at his insistence. I won't admit it to Eric, but it's true that it does get easier with each try. I know that I will never be the type of person that wakes up in the morning with the desire to hit the waves, but I can at least admit to enjoying myself when we're out there.

We've as much as moved in together; the four of us agreeing that it was much easier to have one place to sleep instead of hopping back and forth. Since Amelia's house belonged to her, and Pam was nomadic at her best, it wasn't a hard decision to have me move in with Eric. I still keep things at Amelia's, never wanting to cross any boundaries, but the majority of my belongings reside at Eric's and I'd be lying to myself if I pretend to not enjoy it.

We have fallen into an easy routine – whichever one of us gets off work first is responsible for dinner, and a dedicated hour or two each Saturday morning keeps the place clean. I cannot remember being this comfortable in my past relationships – certainly not Quinn when we lived together, or Bill when he slept over. This relationship with Eric is different than anything before.

I am sitting at the desk in Amelia's office when Maria's voice comes over the intercom and tells me there is a call for me on line one. I look at the clock and frown when I see it is already seven o'clock at night. The day had flown by between my regular duties and my recent assignment to work with Claudine on accommodating a rather demanding upcoming wedding. It's far too late for the bride from New York to be calling, and Eric is over at Alcide's playing pool.

"Sookie Stackhouse," I answer the phone.

"Sookie. There you are. I am so glad that I was able to reach you. It's Diantha." She pauses. "Northman," she adds with a laugh, as if I know anyone else named Diantha.

"Oh." I know a look of confusion crosses my face. We had exchanged emails a handful of times, but I haven't spoken to her since Eric and I departed Kauai that morning. "Hello, Diantha."

A million thoughts cross my mind. Why is she calling me? Did she find out about Eric and me? Does she have bad news to relay about our contract with Portia's group? I know the company has been working on negotiating the terms for the conference next year and they have hit a few bumps along the road.

"Is something wrong? Aren't you in New York?"

"No. I mean, yes I'm in New York, but no, nothing is wrong. Of course not," she responds brightly. "I suppose that might be your gut reaction when I call at this hour," she laughs.

"I'm glad to hear it," I reply sincerely. Very rarely are phone calls made at one o'clock in the morning ever to relay good news.

"Sookie, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. To ask you really."

"Oh?"

"It's about Kauai."

"What about it?" Shit. She knows about Eric. I take a deep breath to compose myself, though lose it when she continues.

"I was wondering if you'd like to move there."

"What?" I practically screech.

"I know it's sudden, and I don't need an answer tonight. But I was just lying here in bed with Peter and we were talking about the new property. He says hello by the way."

I mumble hello back, but my mind is racing as I go over her words.

"Anyway, we had some bad news about the staff there earlier tonight. The concierge manager we had lined up to move from the Santa Barbara resort called us and said his wife is pregnant, which of course is wonderful news. However, since they are pregnant, they decided they don't want to move away from her parents. It left me in a bit of a lurch, but then I thought about you, and well…it just seemed to fit!"

My mind races at a million miles a minute. Any relief I may have felt at the knowledge that my relationship with Eric is still off her radar is replaced with anxiety.

"You want me to work at the Kauai resort?"

"We want you to manage the concierge team at the resort," she says.

Oh. Manage the team. Me?

"Why? I mean. I'm a concierge, and I haven't been working in the industry for very long since my two-year break. Don't you think that there might be someone out there with more experience? Someone that could do a better job?" I'm not angling for false modesty. As exciting as the prospect sounds, I also understand the risk at putting someone like me in that big of a role.

"Don't belittle your talents," she says dismissively. "You're the perfect fit for the job. You're young and energetic, and I know you have a passion for the industry. You won Portia Bellefleur over, not to mention both Pam and Eric. There is absolutely no one who would be a better fit."

"But I've only been with the company for a few months. That's hardly enough time…"

"True, but the general manager I have in mind for the property knows exactly what he's doing. He's been with the business for as long as I can remember. And you're close enough to the Oahu property that you'd be able to work something out with Amelia."

I'm silent, the possibilities running through my head. It's a huge compliment that they would even consider me in this capacity. Unless…unless she knows that I'm sleeping with her son and is trying to separate us. No. I'm being paranoid. She has shown me nothing but kindness.

"I don't know what to say."

"I have a gut feeling about this," she says, as if it is that simple. "I knew the minute that I saw your face in the lobby that you'd be perfect for the resort. And as soon as Robert hung up the phone, I knew you were the right choice. It'd be an increase in pay, of course, and you could stay on property in one of the villas until you could figure out your living arrangements."

It all sounds too good to be true.

"Sookie," she continues. "I know this will sound weird to you – both Pam and Eric think I am a bit eccentric when I talk to them like this – but I know that this is your destiny. I have a gut feeling that this is what you're supposed to do and where you are supposed to be."

"Diantha, I…" I have no idea what to say. Here, the opportunity of a lifetime to advance my career is sitting in my lap, and yet again the only thing I can think of is the relationship I am in. With her son.

"Don't say anything now. I want you to go home and sleep on it; talk it over with Amelia or Pam, or…whoever. Peter and I will be in New York for the next couple of days. Just call me when you're ready to make the decision."

I sit back in my chair when the line goes dead, at a complete loss for what to do. Just when I had finally settled down and feel content with my life in Hawaii, this comes along.

I shut down the computer; I know that there is no chance of me getting anything accomplished tonight with this weighing on my mind. I feel like I'm moving in slow motion as I gather my things and say goodbye to Maria, and barely even register the change in temperature as I leave the hotel and head into the parking lot.

Without consciously making any decisions, I find myself pulling into the driveway of Amelia's house. She's the only person I can talk to about this right now. I know Eric will be supportive of whatever I chose, but it is too hard to face him right now knowing that I may make the decision to leave him behind.

Amelia answers my knock, a surprised look on her face when she sees me standing there.

"Sookie!" Her brows are furrowed in confusion. "What are you doing here? Did something happen? Is something wrong?"

I shake my head and ask if I can come inside. I move past her in a daze when she steps inside and fall back heavily on the white sofa in her living room.

"Do you want something to drink? A cup of tea?" She pauses. "A cocktail?"

I wordlessly agree to the second, and sit in the relative quiet as she mixes one of her concoctions. Here, in the silence of her living room, I run through the possibilities in my mind.

"Here," Amelia says, handing a pint glass filled with a green-tinged liquid to me. I drink half of it before coming up for air. "What's wrong Sookie?" She sounds worried as she sits down next to me. "Did you fight with Eric?"

If only it were as simple as that.

"No," I shake my head. "Everything is fine with Eric." Or it is for now. Who knows? It could be just fine forever depending on my decision.

"Good," she smiles. "Good. But something is wrong?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." I lean back in the sofa and take another sip. I feel the liquid burning a path to my stomach this time, and revel in the sensation. Maybe getting good and drunk is exactly what I need to do. Maybe I can forget the dilemma I am facing.

"Why don't you start at the beginning," Amelia suggests. "Did something happen at work?"

I nod.

"Did Arlene say something again? Oh, I've been itching to write her up for something lately. Did she harass you?"

I shake my head. "No, it wasn't Arlene."

"Damn." She shrugs her shoulders and smiles. "What then?"

"Eric's mom called me."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," I nod, looking off into the distance.

"Just to say hello, or…"

"She offered me a job in Kauai." There. I said it. Now at least one other person knows.

"She what?"

"Offered me a job in Kauai. Your job specifically."

"What do you mean, my job?"

"Oh," I shake my head. "Not your job as in it was yours for the taking. The head concierge job."

"I thought Robert was moving?"

"No. His wife just found out she was pregnant and they don't want to leave the area and the grandparents." I take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "She wants me to take his place; to move to Kauai."

"What did you say?"

I take another drink. "I didn't say anything. She told me to sleep on it and call her in the next few days."

Amelia reaches out and takes my hand in hers, lowering her voice. "What are you going to say?"

"I…I don't know." I take a shuddered breath. "I can't even process it right now. There are all these thoughts bouncing around my head like a super ball. I can't concentrate."

"Have you told Eric?"

"No! I haven't told anyone. Well, now you know, but that's it."

Amelia brings her glass up to her lips and takes a long drink. She licks her lips cautiously. "Are you going to tell him?"

"I think I might have to, depending on the decision," I laugh. "Unless I just don't come home for dinner one night."

"So you're going to say yes?"

"No. I mean, not necessarily. I…I don't know what to think. It's an amazing opportunity, there's no question there. And I've never been to a property like that before. I felt so comfortable there, and the fact that Diantha even thought of me is beyond belief."

"You're an excellent employee."

I roll my eyes.

"No. You are. I wouldn't have hired you if I didn't think you were good, and what you did with Portia is just icing on the cake."

I wave my hand dismissively. "That's nothing."

"No, it's not. You did a good job, and people noticed. That undoubtedly plays into why she offered you this opportunity."

"Yet another kink that conference throws into my life," I say with a tiny laugh. Better to defuse these types of situations with humor than face the facts.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…Eric." I sigh. "Why is it that I finally feel happy with my life; I finally like my job and feel like I'm on the right track; I finally have a man in my life that I lo- erm… that I like."

"You were not going to say 'like', Sookie!" Amelia pounces. "Oh my God. You love Eric Northman, don't you?"

I shake my head quickly; too quickly.

"You do!" she shrieks. "Sookie Stackhouse in love with the GPD! I couldn't have imagined it if I tried." The other problem is momentarily swept under the rug as she peppers me with questions. "When did you figure out you were in love with him? Did you tell him? Does he love you?"

"What? I… I don't know. And no I haven't told him, and no, he hasn't said anything to me. I…don't think he loves me. I…" I recall the way he'd told me that he adored me, the way he's been so sweet and compassionate towards me since we returned from Kauai. Maybe he hasn't said he loves me in words, but there are plenty of actions that could make me think otherwise.

Oh God. I cannot think about the possibility of Eric loving me. That would make things even more difficult to rifle though.

"I don't think he loves me," I repeat, both to Amelia and to reassure myself.

"Alright," she responds softly. "I won't push that issue. Let's just stick with he likes you. A lot."

I nod, and offer up a small smile. "Okay. Yes. Let's stick with that."

"So, you're faced with this job opportunity or a guy you really really like?"

I nod.

"And you don't know what to do?"

I shake my head. "I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't."

"How so?"

"If I choose to stay, then what has been the point of this whole move to Hawaii? I thought I had left the girl behind who makes her life decisions based on whatever relationship she is in. If I stay, then I will always know that I made the decision because of whatever I have with Eric. And even though I really really like him, I don't want that weighing in the back of my mind."

"Okay, that sounds reasonable. But…?"

"But," I squeeze my eyes shut. "The fact of the matter is that the thought of leaving Eric here makes me feel sick."

Amelia reaches out and takes my now empty cup from me, standing up and returning to the kitchen where she refills the glass and brings it back out.

"I can see why you need a drink."

"Yeah," I nod, taking the full glass with a smile and drinking more.

"Too bad it isn't something as simple as a fight with him, huh?"

I manage a giggle. "If only it were that easy."

We sit in silence, sipping from our cups. My eyes are trained out the window at the beach and the waves that are lapping the shore. There are some stragglers on the beach, but it is mostly desolate, the moonlight casting brilliant light off the water beyond.

"It's a great opportunity," Amelia finally says.

"I know."

"One that doesn't come along very often."

I know that too.

"It's something I never dreamed of happening so quickly. I thought I'd be here for at least a year, maybe two, and that was before anything happened with Eric. Once we…got together…I haven't even contemplated leaving."

"I think you need to talk about it with Eric."

"And say what? Ask him to make the decision for me? Make him as miserable as I am at the possibility, one way or the other? Find out how much he likes me? Maybe push him away so the decision is that much easier?"

"No." She wraps her arm around my shoulder and tucks my head into the crook of her neck. "He's as much of a part of this as you are. He's going to find out eventually – who knows? Maybe Diantha already called and told him; she doesn't have a reason not to since you've insisted on keeping your relationship a secret."

"I didn't want them to think that I was the kind of girl who-"

"I'm not questioning your reasons, Sookie." She strokes my hair gently, in the manner a mother would a child. "But it's going to be better coming from you, no matter which way you slice it. And he deserves to have it come from you."

She's right. I know she's right.

"What if I can't? What if I see him and make the same decision I made with Quinn and Bill?"

"Eric is nothing like Quinn or Bill. You said it yourself. If you love Eric – and I know you do, no matter what you say – if you love him, you owe it to him to have a say. I know you're afraid of the past, of repeating your mistakes. But if you make your decision based on what happened then, it's no better than making a decision based on Eric. Either way, you're making a decision based on a man. Would you rather make it based on Bill Compton? Or would you rather make it based on – and with – Eric?"

AN: So…many of you guessed that she was going to get offered the job in Kauai, and she was… now it's just a matter of what she'll choose to do!

Thanks again to everyone for reading, and for those of you that take the time to review, thank you thank you thank you! I know I'm terrible about responding, but I do appreciate every single one of you readers and reviewers! We're nearing the home stretch!